Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/30—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
  • A63F13/32—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers using local area network [LAN] connections
  • A63F13/327—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers using local area network [LAN] connections using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/30—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
  • A63F13/34—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers using peer-to-peer connections
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/70—Game security or game management aspects
  • A63F13/77—Game security or game management aspects involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/01—Protocols
  • H04L67/10—Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
  • H04L67/104—Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
  • H04L67/1044—Group management mechanisms 
  • H04L67/1051—Group master selection mechanisms
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W84/00—Network topologies
  • H04W84/18—Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
  • H04W84/20—Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Definitions

• This application relates to computer communications, in particular to communication of game data.
• Multi-player games such as card games and mahjong, typically need many users to play the same game together. Users can use mobile phones to participate in the multi-player game through cellular communication networks, such as 2G and 3G networks.
• the invention is implemented in a computer system that has one or more processors, memory and one or more modules, programs or sets of instructions stored in the memory for performing multiple functions. Instructions for performing these functions may be included in a computer program product configured for execution by one or more processors.
• One aspect of the present application involves a computer-implemented method performed by a portable electronic device for controlling game data communication between portable electronic devices.
• the computer- implemented method includes: receiving one or more performance parameters from multiple portable electronic devices as slave devices; determining whether the portable electronic device satisfies performance criteria with respect to the multiple portable electronic devices; in accordance with a determination that the portable electronic device does not satisfy the performance criteria with respect to the multiple portable electronic devices: selecting one of the multiple portable electronic devices as a new master device; and transferring a master device status to the selected portable electronic device; and, subsequent to transferring a master device status to the selected portable electronic device, communicating, as a slave device, with the selected portable electronic device.
• the portable electronic device includes memory, one or more processors, and one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors.
• the one or more programs include instructions for: receiving one or more performance parameters from multiple portable electronic devices as slave devices; determining whether the portable electronic device satisfies performance criteria with respect to the multiple portable electronic devices; in accordance with a determination that the portable electronic device does not satisfy the performance criteria with respect to the multiple portable electronic devices:
• Another aspect of the invention involves a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a portable electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions for: receiving one or more performance parameters from multiple portable electronic devices as slave devices; determining whether the portable electronic device satisfies performance criteria with respect to the multiple portable electronic devices; in accordance with a determination that the portable electronic device does not satisfy the performance criteria with respect to the multiple portable electronic devices: selecting one of the multiple portable electronic devices as a new master device; and transferring a master device status to the selected portable electronic device; and, subsequent to transferring a master device status to the selected portable electronic device, communicating, as a slave device, with the selected portable electronic device.
• Figure 1 is a flowchart diagram of a game data communication method in accordance with some embodiments.
• Figure 2 is another flowchart diagram of a game data communication method in accordance with some embodiments.
• Figure 3 is yet another flowchart diagram of a game data communication method in accordance with some embodiments.
• Figure 4 is a structural diagram of a terminal in accordance with some embodiments.
• Figure 5 is another structural diagram of a terminal in accordance with some embodiments.
• Figure 6 is a block diagram of a computer system in accordance with some embodiments.
• Figures 7A-7B illustrate a flow chart of an exemplary method for controlling game data communication between portable electronic devices in accordance with some embodiments.
• Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
• Some of the embodiments include methods that enable multi-player game realize in the environment of a communication network.
• a terminal used by each user who participates in the same multi-player game has been configured to make a direct wireless connection using a WIFI-Direct module.
• Each user carries out data communication through the WIFI-Direct module of the terminal he/she uses.
• the WIFI-Direct modules of different terminals adopt WIFI-Direct technology to conduct data communication.
• control terminal, candidate terminal and controlled terminal are terminals configured to include a WIFI-Direct module.
• the terminal that the user uses is called the control terminal.
• Other users can initiate participation in the multi-player game by using their own terminals, and the terminals used by each of other users are called candidate terminals.
• the control terminal selects one or more user terminals from the candidate terminals, and the one or more selected user terminals participate in the multi-player game together with control terminal.
• the multi-player game is the game which has at least two terminals participate.
• Figure 1 illustrates a method for game data communication in accordance with some embodiments.
• a WIFI-Direct module of a control terminal receives one or more broadcast messages sent by WIFI-Direct modules of candidate terminals.
• a respective broadcast message of the one or more broadcast messages includes an indication of a corresponding candidate terminal.
• the WIFI-Direct module is used to conduct data communication (e.g., by using WIFI-Direct technology).
• the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal remains in a close state to reduce the power consumption of the control terminal until a user launches the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal manually.
• the multi-player game application when the user launches a multi-player game application, the multi-player game application
• WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal or the WIFI-Direct module of a candidate terminal, after WIFI-Direct module starting up, sends out broadcast messages periodically. This allows other terminals with WIFI-Direct modules to receive the broadcast messages, and recognize the presence of terminals with WIFI-Direct Modules.
• control terminal selects controlled terminals from the candidate terminals.
• control terminal selects the controlled terminals according to a number of people required by a multi-player game and other conditions.
• the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal establishes communication connection with the WIFI-Direct module of the controlled terminal.
• the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal sends, to the
• the controlled terminal After receiving the request for establishing communication connection, the controlled terminal sends a confirmation to the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal, indicating that the controlled terminal is available to establish communication connection with the control terminal, or a rejection indicating that the controlled terminal is unavailable to establish communication connection with the control terminal.
• the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal shows that the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal has successfully established communication connection with the WIFI-Direct module of the controlled terminal.
• control terminal when the control terminal communicates game data to the controlled terminals, the control terminal communicates game data to different controlled terminals using different data transmission methods (e.g., synchronous transmission or asynchronous transmission).
• data transmission methods e.g., synchronous transmission or asynchronous transmission.
• control terminal transmits synchronous data (e.g., data that needs to be displayed synchronously in the controlled terminal, a message sent into group chat by the control terminal, or a game operation that needs be shown synchronously in the controlled terminal) to each controlled terminal.
• synchronous data e.g., data that needs to be displayed synchronously in the controlled terminal, a message sent into group chat by the control terminal, or a game operation that needs be shown synchronously in the controlled terminal
• control terminal transmits asynchronous data (e.g., data, distributed only to a single controlled terminal by the control terminal, which needs to be shown in the single controlled terminal and not in other controlled terminals) only to the single controlled terminal.
• asynchronous data e.g., data, distributed only to a single controlled terminal by the control terminal, which needs to be shown in the single controlled terminal and not in other controlled terminals
• Figure 1 refers to the control terminal and the controlled terminal as an example to describe how communication connections are established between the two terminals set with WIFI-Direct modules. However, a person having skilled in the art would understand that similar operations can be performed between any two terminals. For brevity, these details are omitted.
• the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal can establish communication connection with the WIFI-Direct module of the controlled terminal, and communicate game data with the WIFI-Direct module of the controlled terminal through the communication connection. Because WIFI-Direct modules uses WIFI-Direct technology to conduct data communication between them, cellular communication networks, such 2G or 3G networks, are not needed to enable data communications among many terminals with WIFI-Direct modules.
• each terminal participating in the same multi-player game can communicate game data through WIFI-Direct modules, even if each terminal cannot communicate game through cellular networks, such as 2G or 3G networks, using the conventional technology.
• cellular networks such as 2G or 3G networks
• the described embodiments compliment a multi-player game using a cellular communication network, such as a 2G or 3G network
• control terminals are dynamically switched. This allows balancing the load of each terminal participating in the same multi-player game. This also avoids an
• Figure 2 illustrates another method for game data communication in accordance with some embodiments.
• Figure 2 includes operations 101, 102, 103, and 104 described above with respect to Figure 1.
• Figure 2 also illustrates that, after the aforementioned operation 103, operation
• the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal receives one or more performance parameters periodically sent by the WIFI-Direct module of each controlled terminal.
• the one or more performance parameters include one or more of an energy level (e.g., a battery charge level) of the controlled terminal and a usage rate of CPU (central processing unit or a processor) of the controlled terminal.
• each controlled terminal periodically (for example, every five seconds) sends the energy level and the usage rate of CPU.
• the control terminal uses the performance parameter sent by each controlled terminal.
• the control terminal ranks, according to the usage rate of CPU, terminals that exceed a threshold energy level.
• the threshold energy level is 10% (or
• a terminal that has a lowest usage rate of CPU is ranked at the top.
• control terminal determines whether the control terminal is within a predefined percentage of the terminals in the ranking.
• the predefined percentage is 50%.
• the control terminal determines whether the control terminal is ranked among the top 50% of the terminals.
• control terminal in accordance with a determination that the control terminal is not within the predefined percentage, the control terminal adds 1 to the preset counter. Otherwise, in accordance with a determination that the control terminal is within the predefined percentage, the control terminal clears the preset counter (e.g., the preset counter is set to zero), and repeats operation 106 using a subsequent set of performance parameters sent by each controlled terminal.
• the preset counter e.g., the preset counter is set to zero
• control terminal determines whether the preset counter has reached a predefined value.
• control terminal in accordance with a determination that the preset counter has reached the predefined value, the control terminal initiates dynamic switching of the control terminal. Otherwise, in accordance with a determination that the preset counter has not reached the predefined value, the control terminal repeats operation 106 using a subsequent set of performance parameters.
• the predefined value is three.
• the control terminal initiates dynamic switching of the control terminal.
• the target value is set to avoid excessive dynamic switching of the control terminal, which adversely affects the experience of users.
• the dynamic switching of the control terminal includes the following operations.
• control terminal selects a highest ranked terminal as a new control terminal, and sends a broadcast message to each controlled terminal to notify the
• control terminal becomes a controlled terminal.
• controlled terminals send signaling
• two controlled terminals conduct point-to-point data transmission between each other.
• Figure 3 illustrates details of operation 104 in accordance with some embodiments.
• the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal receives the resource obtaining request from the WIFI-Direct module of a controlled terminal (called herein a target controlled terminal with respect to Figure 3) through the communication connection.
• the controlled terminal A is a target controlled terminal.
• the controlled terminal A needs an installation file (or upgrade file) of a plug-in package of a multi-player game.
• the WIFI-Direct module of the controlled terminal A sends, to the control terminal, a request for resource to obtain the installation file (or upgrade file) of a plug-in package.
• the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal sends a broadcast message that includes the resource request.
• the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal sends a broadcast message to the WIFI-Direct module of the controlled module B and the WIFI-Direct module of the controlled terminal C.
• the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal receives the response message from each controlled terminal that received the broadcast message.
• the response message includes resource information of the controlled terminal.
• the WIFI-Direct module of the controlled terminal B and the WIFI-Direct module of the controlled terminal C send respective response messages to the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal.
• control terminal selects a controlled terminal according to the resource information and performance parameters of each controlled terminal.
• the selected controlled terminal stores the requested resource and has performance parameters to satisfy the resource request.
• the control terminal determines that both the controlled terminal B and the controlled terminal C store the resource requested by the controlled terminal A.
• the control terminal further compares the performance parameters of the controlled terminal B and the controlled terminal C, and selects a controlled terminal based on the energy level and/or the usage rate of CPU of the controlled terminal. For example, the control terminal selects a controlled terminal that has a high energy level, or a controlled terminal that has a low usage rate of CPU.
• the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal sends the information of the selected controlled terminal (e.g., information identifying the selected controlled terminal) to the target controlled terminal. This enables the target controlled terminal to obtain the required resource from the selected controlled terminal.
• the selected controlled terminal is the controlled terminal B.
• the control terminal sends the information of the controlled terminal B to the controlled terminal A.
• the controlled terminal A After receiving the information of the selected controlled terminal, the controlled terminal A sends an acknowledgement to the control terminal. This indicates to the control terminal that the controlled terminal A has successfully received the information of the selected controlled terminal. After that, the controlled terminal A and the controlled terminal B directly conduct the point-to-point transmission of the requested resource.
• Figure 4 illustrates a structural diagram of a terminal in accordance with some embodiments.
• the terminal includes a WIFI-Direct module 41.
• the WIFI-Direct module 41 is configured to receive broadcast messages sent by WIFI-Direct modules of other terminals.
• the broadcast messages include one or more identifications of candidate terminals.
• the WIFI-Direct module uses WIFI-Direct technology to conduct data communication.
• the terminal also includes a selection module 42.
• the selection module 42 is configured to select controlled terminals from candidate terminals.
• the WIFI-Direct module 41 is also configured to establish communication connection with the WIFI-Direct module of other terminals (e.g., controlled terminals).
• the WIFI-Direct module 41 is also configured to communicate game data with the WIFI-Direct module of a controlled terminal through the communication connection.
• the WIFI-Direct module of the control terminal can establish communication connection with the WIFI-Direct module of the controlled terminal, and communicate game data with the WIFI-Direct module of the controlled terminal through the communication connection.
• WIFI-Direct modules uses WIFI-Direct technology to conduct data communication between them, cellular communication networks, such 2G or 3G networks, are not needed to enable data communications among many terminals with WIFI-Direct modules.
• cellular communication networks such 2G or 3G networks
• each terminal participating in the same multi-player game can communicate game data through WIFI-Direct modules, even if each terminal cannot communicate game through cellular networks, such as 2G or 3G networks, using the conventional technology.
• the described embodiments compliment a multi-player game using a cellular communication network, such as a 2G or 3G network
• the terminal shown in Figure 4 performs the method shown in Figure 1.
• the terminal is a control terminal. In some embodiments, the terminal is a control terminal.
• control terminals are dynamically switched. This allows balancing the load of each terminal participating in the same multi-player game. This also avoids an interruption of multi-player game due to overloading of a single control terminal.
• the WIFI-Direct module 41 is also configured to receive one or more performance parameters periodically sent by the WIFI-Direct module of each controlled terminal.
• the one or more performance parameters include one or more of: a percentage of an energy level of the controlled terminal and a usage rate of CPU of the controlled terminal.
• Figure 5 illustrates another structural diagram of a terminal in accordance with some embodiments.
• the terminal illustrated in Figure 5 includes the WIFI-Direct module 41 and the selection module 42 described above with respect to Figure 4.
• the terminal also includes a processing module 43.
• the processing module is a module 43.
• the processing module 43 is configured to use performance parameters sent by each controlled terminal.
• the processing module 43 according to the usage rate of CPU, ranks the control terminal and controlled terminals that exceed a threshold energy level.
• the processing module 43 is also configured to determine whether the control terminal is within a predefined percentage of terminals (e.g., in terms of the energy level and/or the usage rate of CPU).
• the processing module 43 is configured to increase the preset counter in accordance with a determination that the control terminal is not within the predefined percentage of terminals.
• the processing module 43 is also configured to clear the preset counter in accordance with a determination that the control terminal is within the predefined percentage of terminals.
• the processing module 43 is also configured to initiate dynamic switching of the control terminal in accordance with a determination that the preset counter has reached a predefined value.
• the processing module 43 is also configured to forego initiating the dynamic switching of the control terminal in accordance with a determination that the preset counter has not reached a predefined value.
• the processing module 43 is configured to select a controlled terminal based on the ranking of the terminals, and send a broadcast message to each controlled terminal to notify the controlled terminals of the identification of the selected controlled terminal as a new control terminal.
• the terminal shown in the Figure 5 performs the method shown in Figure 2.
• the WIFI-Direct module 41 is also configured to receive a resource request from the WIFI-Direct module of a target controlled terminal.
• the WIFI-Direct module 41 is further configured to send broadcast messages, and the broadcast message includes the resource request.
• the WIFI-Direct module 41 is configured to receive responses sent by respective controlled terminals. A response from a respective controlled terminal includes the resource information of the respective controlled terminal.
• selection module 42 is configured to select a controlled terminal based on the resource information and one or more performance parameters of each controlled terminal.
• the selected controlled terminal stores the requested resource.
• the selected controlled terminal has a performance to satisfy the resource request.
• the WIFI-Direct module 41 is configured to send the information of the selected controlled terminal to the target controlled terminal. This enables the target controlled terminal to obtain the required resource directly from the selected controlled terminal.
• the WIFI-Direct module 41 performs one or more operations of the control terminal shown in Figure 3.
• FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a computer system 600 for implementing the method of for controlling game data communication between portable electronic devices in accordance with some embodiments.
• the system 600 comprises a portable electronic device (e.g., mobile device, handheld computer, tablet computer, etc.).
• the system 600 includes one or more processing units
• processors also called herein "processors” 602, memory 604, an input/output (I/O) interface 606, and a network communications interface 608. These components communicate with one another over one or more communication buses or signal lines 610.
• the memory 604, or the computer readable storage media of memory 604 stores programs, modules, instructions, and data structures including all or a subset of: an operating system 612, an I/O module 614, a communication module 616, one or more application programs 618, and an operation control module 622.
• the one or more processors 602 are coupled to the memory 604 and operable to execute these programs, modules, and instructions, and reads/writes from to the data structures.
• the processing units 602 include one or more microprocessors, such as a single core or multi-core microprocessor. In some embodiments, the processing units 602 include one or more general purpose processors. In some embodiments, the processing units 602 include one or more special purpose processors.
• the memory 604 includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random access solid state memory devices.
• the memory 604 includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storage devices.
• the memory 604 includes one or more storage devices remotely located from the processing units 602.
• the memory 604, or alternately the non-volatile memory device(s) within the memory 604 comprises a computer readable storage medium.
• the memory 604 comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium.
• the I/O interface 606 couples one or more input/output devices, such as one or more displays (e.g., a touch-sensitive display, also called a touch screen), a keyboards, touch screens, speakers, and microphones, to the I/O module 614 of the system 600.
• the I/O interface 606 and the I O module 614 also present outputs (e.g., sounds, images, text, etc.) to the user according to various program instructions implemented on the system 600.
• the network communications interface 608 includes wired communication port(s) and/or wireless transmission and reception circuitry.
• the wired communication port(s) receive and send communication signals via one or more wired interfaces, e.g., Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, etc.
• the wireless circuitry receives and sends RF signals and/or optical signals from/to communications networks and other communications devices.
• the wireless communications may use any of a plurality of communications standards, protocols and technologies, such as GSM, EDGE, CDMA, TDMA, Bluetooth, WiFi, VoIP, Wi-MAX, or any other suitable communication protocol.
• the network communications interface 608 enables communication between the system 600 with networks, such as the Internet, an intranet and/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and other devices.
• networks such as the Internet, an intranet and/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and other devices.
• networks such as the Internet, an intranet and/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and other devices.
• LAN wireless local area network
• MAN metropolitan area network
• the operating system 602 e.g., Darwin, RTXC,
• LINUX LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks
• LINUX includes various software components and/or drivers for controlling and managing general system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, power management, etc.) and facilitates communications between various hardware, firmware, and software components.
• general system tasks e.g., memory management, storage device control, power management, etc.
• the system 600 is implemented on a portable electronic device (e.g., a smart phone, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, etc.). It should be noted that the system 600 is only one example, and that the system 600 may have more or fewer components than shown, may combine two or more components, or may have a different configuration or arrangement of the components.
• the various components shown in Figure 6 may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, including one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits, or a combination of thereof.
• the operation control module 604 include one or more game applications 620. [0097] As shown in Figure 6, in some embodiments, the operation control module
• a status control module 624 which includes the followings modules, or a subset or superset thereof: a performance parameter module 626, a performance determination module 628, a master selection module 630, and a master status transfer module 632.
• the performance parameter module 626 is configured to receive one or more performance parameters from other portable electronic devices.
• the performance determination module 628 is configured to determine whether the computer system (e.g., the portable electronic device) satisfies performance criteria with respect to the portable electronic devices.
• the master selection module 630 is configured to select one of the portable electronic devices.
• the master status transfer module 632 is configured to transfer a master device status.
• FIGS 7A-7B illustrate a flow chart of an exemplary method 700 for controlling game data communication between portable electronic devices in accordance with some embodiments.
• the method is performed by a portable electronic device (e.g., the portable electronic device 700 illustrated in Figure 6) with memory and one or more processors.
• the portable electronic device is a master device (also called herein a control device) that controls communications among multiple portable electronic devices (typically three or more portable electronic devices).
• a master device also called herein a control device
• multiple portable electronic devices typically three or more portable electronic devices.
• remaining portable electronic devices of the multiple portable electronic devices are also called herein slave devices or controlled terminals.
• the portable electronic device receives (702) one or more performance parameters from multiple portable electronic devices as slave devices.
• the one or more performance parameters include (704) one or more of an energy level of a respective portable electronic device and a usage rate of a processor of the respective portable electronic device.
• the one or more performance parameters include an energy level of a respective portable electronic device.
• the one or more performance parameters include a usage rate of a processor of the respective portable electronic device.
• the one or more performance parameters include both the energy level of the respective portable electronic device and the usage rate of a processor of the respective portable electronic device.
• the respective portable electronic device includes a plurality of processors
• the usage rate of a processor of the respective portable electronic device corresponds to a representative usage rate of the plurality of processors of the respective portable electronic device (e.g., an average of usage rates of the plurality of processors).
• the portable electronic device determines (706) whether the portable electronic device satisfies performance criteria with respect to the multiple portable electronic devices. For example, in some embodiments, the portable electronic device determines whether the portable electronic device has a usage rate of a processor that meets predefined performance criteria (e.g., less than 60%).
• predefined performance criteria e.g., less than 60%
• determining whether the portable electronic device satisfies the performance criteria includes (708) identifying a subset of the multiple portable electronic devices that exceed a threshold energy level, and determining whether the portable electronic device is within a predefined percentage of the subset of portable electronic devices in accordance with the usage rate of a processor for a predefined number of successive cycles. For example, in some embodiments, the portable electronic device identifies that, out of ten portable electronic devices, eight portable electronic devices exceed the threshold energy level (e.g., the eight portable electronic devices have 20% or higher energy level).
• the portable electronic device determines that the portable electronic device is ranked the third among the eight portable electronic devices in terms of the usage rate of a processor, and that the ranking of the portable electronic device meets predefined criteria (e.g., less than 50% of the eight portable electronic devices).
• the portable electronic device receives the one or more performance parameters over multiple cycles (e.g., three), each cycle apart from a preceding cycle by at least a predefined interval, and determines whether the portable electronic device is within the predefined percentage of the subset of portable electronic devices in accordance with the usage rate of a processor for a predefined number of successive cycles.
• the portable electronic device selects (710) one of the multiple portable electronic devices as a new master device, and transfers (712) a master device status to the selected portable electronic device. For example, in some embodiments, the portable electronic device selects, among the multiple portable electronic devices, a portable electronic device that exceeds the threshold energy level and has a lowest usage rate of a processor.
• transferring the master device status to the selected portable electronic devices includes (714) sending, to portable electronic devices connected as slave devices to the portable electronic device, a broadcast message indicating that the selected portable electronic device is a new master device.
• the portable electronic device communicates (716, Figure 7B), as a slave device, with the selected portable electronic device.
• communicating, as a slave device, with the selected portable electronic device includes (718) sending one or more performance parameters of the portable electronic device to the selected portable electronic device.
• the new master device receives one or more performance parameters from the portable electronic device (similar to operation 702 described above).
• the portable electronic device in accordance with a determination that the portable electronic device satisfies the performance criteria with respect to the multiple portable electronic devices, the portable electronic device continues to operate as a master device.
• the portable electronic device receives (720) a resource request from a first slave device, and, in response to receiving the resource request, sending a broadcast message to one or more slave devices, connected to the portable electronic device as slave devices, other than the first slave device.
• the portable electronic device in response to sending the broadcast message, receiving one or more responses from the one or more slave devices, selects a slave device in accordance with predefined criteria, and sends information identifying the selected slave device to the first slave device. For example, see operations described with respect to Figure 3.
• selecting the slave device in accordance with the predefined criteria includes (722) selecting a subset of the one or more slave devices, connected to the portable electronic device as slave devices, that have a resource requested in the resource request, and, selecting a slave device, of the subset of the one or more slave devices, based on one or more performance parameters of the slave device. For example, in some embodiments, the portable electronic device selects a slave device that stores a requested file (which in some embodiments include a data file or a data packet) and has a lowest usage rate of a processor among the slave devices.
• a requested file which in some embodiments include a data file or a data packet
• stages that are not order dependent may be reordered and other stages may be combined or broken out. While some reordering or other groupings are specifically mentioned, others will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art and so do not present an exhaustive list of alternatives. Moreover, it should be recognized that the stages could be implemented in hardware, firmware, software or any combination thereof.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Child & Adolescent Psychology (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Mathematical Physics (AREA)
• Computing Systems (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Telephone Function (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Related Child Applications (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=50997267

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 2012
  • 2012-12-28 CN CN201210584776.3A patent/CN103906171B/zh active Active
• 2013
  • 2013-09-23 TW TW102134166A patent/TWI503149B/zh active
  • 2013-12-27 WO PCT/CN2013/090750 patent/WO2014101842A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-12-27 KR KR1020157020492A patent/KR20150092363A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2014
  • 2014-04-29 US US14/265,274 patent/US9649557B2/en active Active
• 2015
  • 2015-01-02 HK HK15100010.9A patent/HK1199685A1/zh unknown

Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events